HTN: City Looks to Sync Red Lights

Buffalo drivers tired of traffic nightmares may be getting some relief. The City is borrowing nearly two-million dollars to synchronize traffic signals. The one-point-eight-million dollars will be used to create better traffic flow at 170 additional signals. The past two years, city officials have been working to get cars running more smoothly. So far, 100 lights have had changes in timing. Mayor Byron Brown says the city is looking for federal stimulus money to work on all 660 lights. City officials hope to have the synchronization finished by the end of next year.

HTN: Polls Favors Red-Light Cameras

A majority of American voters like having red light cameras at dangerous intersections. A recent Public Opinion Strategies shows that 69-percent are in favor of using the device to catch people who run red lights, while only 29-percent are against them. The Buffalo City Hall expects to have cameras installed soon at 50 high-risk intersections.

HTN: Governor Gives Green Light to Traffic-Cams

The Governor has approved 50 red light cameras at intersections in Buffalo. City officials project that the move will generate three-million dollars in revenue. Violaters will be mailed a 50-dollar ticket, but the violation does not include points on the driver’s license. The cameras themselves are still a few months away as the city studies where best to locate the cameras.

State Senate Approves Red Light Cameras

The New York State Senate has now joined the Assembly in approving legislation that would bring red light cameras to Buffalo and other parts of the state. The initiative is part of a five-year pilot program that will be evaluated to see if the cameras should be made permanent. Motorists will face fines of up to 50-dollars if caught on camera blowing a red light. Critics say the program is not about increasing safety but generating revenue from fines.

HTN: Zombie Sign on Main Street

A construction sign in front of Canisius College, which usually warns of detours or other construction-related information, carried a different message yesterday. The message read "Proceed with Caution, Zombies Ahead." Zombie signs have popped up in other areas, such as Indiana and Texas. Apparently, instructions on how to hack road-sign systems have been posted on the Internet.

HTN: Snowplow Case Headed to Grand Jury

The case of a Buffalo city snowplow driver accused of driving his vehicle drunk and killing a man will his case head to a grand jury. Prosecutors say 44-year-old Rowan Gaines was behind the wheel for the fatal incident on January 23rd, when 42-year-old Allen Andrew was hit while walking on Kensington Avenue. Gaines has been suspended from his job while the investigation continues.

HTN: Red Light Cameras Considered

Buffalo residents may want to think twice before speeding through a yellow light. The city of Buffalo is looking into installing traffic cameras to ticket red light-runners. Some citizens say the cameras are a "money grab" and, in the end, unsafe. Supporters say the cameras could be a deterrent to poor driving in certain high-risk neighborhoods. The Buffalo Common Council may vote on the measure next week.

Hometown News: Hit-and-Run Driver Pleads Guilty

An Amherst man has taken a plea deal in a December hit-and-run accident that killed a woman and injured one of her two young sons on Main Street. Twenty-one-year-old Christopher Tulumello has pleaded guilty to drunk driving, vehicular assault, and vehicular manslaughter for the death of 23-year-old Amanda Knowlton and the injury of her four-year-old son Isiah Ortiz. Tulumello now faces up to 15 years in prison. Tulumello allegedly sped through a red light at Main and LaSalle Avenue, struck the two and then sped off. He is free on 50-thousand dollars security bond, and must wear an ankle-monitor device.

HTN: Hit-and-Run Driver Injures Two

Amherst police continue searching for a hit-and-run driver who seriously injured two college students over the weekend. Authorities say 22-year-old Amy Stewart and 21-year-old Rachel Baird were hit while crossing Main Street near Campus Drive early Saturday morning. Stewart is in critical condition with head trauma while Baird is in fair condition with chest and abdomen injuries. Authorities are searching for a dark colored SUV with possible front end damage. Anyone with information is urged to call Amherst police.

HTN: School Bus Crash in Sanborn

Six children on a Niagara-Wheatfield school district bus were hurt in an accident yesterday afternoon on Saunders Settlement Road. Police say the driver hit another vehicle from behind, and is expected to be charged. The six kids were treated for minor facial injuries. Other children were taken to Sanborn Fire Hall and their parents picked them up.

HTN: School Bus Crash in Sanborn

Six children on a Niagara-Wheatfield school district bus were hurt in an accident yesterday afternoon on Saunders Settlement Road. Police say the driver hit another vehicle from behind, and is expected to be charged. The six kids were treated for minor facial injuries. Other children were taken to Sanborn Fire Hall and their parents picked them up.

HTN: Fatal Crash on Transit

A fatal crash on Transit Road last night. A female driver crossed a yellow line and collided with a tractor-trailer. Twenty-one-year-old Kahlea Hendel's car went under the truck and she had to be extricated by Swormville firefighters. She was taken to Millard Suburban Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

HTN: Fiery Crash in Hamburg

A Hamburg man is in critical condition after being trapped inside his burning vehicle over the weekend. Two town police lieutenants are credited with saving 45-year-old David Morga Sunday night. Authorities say the two lieutenants witnessed the crash at Camp Road and Southwestern Boulevard. Morga suffered burns to 30-percent of his body. The driver of the second car was charged with drunk driving.

HTN: Snombobile Victim Identified

North Tonawanda police have identified the man killed over the weekend riding a snowmobile. Authorities say 32-year-old David Munter hit a moving car on Erie Avenue at about 3:30 Sunday morning. The driver of the vehicle, 22-year-old John McDonald, was charged with DWI, although investigators are not sure who is at fault for the crash. It is still unclear if Munter was riding the snowmobile in the middle of the street or just crossing the street. The investigation continues.

HTN: Fatal Crash in Cambria

A Lockport woman is dead after a Sunday afternoon crash in Cambria. The Niagara County Sheriff's Department says 34-year-old April Torres lost control of her car on Saunders Settlement Road and collided with oncoming traffic. Torres was pronounced dead at the scene. Several others were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The accident remains under investigation.

HTN: Fatal Snowmobile Crash in NT

A North Tonawanda man was killed on his snowmobile, after colliding with a car. Police say it happened about 3:30 Sunday morning on Erie Avenue. Authorities say the driver of the car, 22-year-old john McDonald of Pendleton, was charged with drunk driving. Cops say the victim was riding the snowmobile in the middle of the street, which is illegal.

HTN: Plea Deal in Fatal Street race

Christopher Mejak has taken a plea deal for his involvement in an illegal street race that left two dead. The 21-year-old was allegedly racing Mark Harhigh of Lancanster on Transit Road in May, with speeds reaching 120-miles-an-hour. Harhigh crossed over four lanes of traffic and hit a pole, which split his car in to, killing him and his girlfriend, Melanie Page of Cheektowaga. Mejak has pleaded guilty to two counts of criminally negligent homicide and faces up to four years in jail. The minimum is six months jail time and five years probation. Mejak is free on ten-thousand dollars bail. He will be sentenced in March

Hometown News: Icy Morning Drive

The morning commute was a slippery trip today, as a thin ice layer sent cars spinning on numerous area roads. State Police reported that at least two accidents snarled traffic on the 190, at least six vehicles went off the road on the Scajaquada, an accident slowed traffic on the inbound Kensington, and a car was sideswiped right outside our studios on Genesee Street in Cheektowaga.

HTN: Hit and Run Case in Court

Christopher Tulumello was in Buffalo City Court Wednesday afternoon. His attorneys asked Buffalo City Court Judge David Manz to postpone Tulumello's felony evidence hearing until January 8th, after a fatal accident on December 3rd that killed Amanda Knowlton and injured her son. Tulumello remains in jail in lieu of 500-thousand dollars bail. The 23-year-old Knowlton and her four-year-old son Isiah were struck after Tulumello stopped for a traffic light, then sped off, after first having weaved through many cars. Attorney Steve Boyd is representing the boy. Tulumello's been charged with vehicular assault, vehicular manslaughter, driving without insurance and without a license, and DUI.

HTN: Fatal Accident in Cheektowaga

A section of Genesee Street near our Cheektowaga studios was closed down this morning after an accident that killed a town resident. Police say a car driven by 23-year-old David Cramer of Buffalo struck 53-year-old Paul Albano as he was trying to cross Genesee near Vegola shortly after 6 A.M. Dark and rainy conditions may have contributed to the crash. Albano, who was on his way to work at the time, was pronounced dead at the scene. Cramer was charged with driving with a suspended license.